Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A quick disconnect electrical connector having a plug device and a receptacle device. Fixedly connected to either the plug device or the receptacle device is an outer sleeve structure axially movable with respect to the plug or receptacle member and resiliently biased in one direction of engagement of the plug and the receptacle. A lanyard or other structure is attached to the outer sleeve for receiving the disconnecting force. Attached to the other of the plug or receptacle devices are radially extending engaging structures which can be extending radially inwardly or outwardly. Engaging the radially extending structures is a coupling member which may be formed from several sections and which is radially outwardly expandable. If the coupling member is formed in a plurality of sections, it has a retaining mechanism adjacent to the end nearest the outer sleeve member. A coupling member has a radially and circumferentially extending structure to engage the radially extending structure on either the plug or receptacle means. Both the outer sleeve member and the coupling member have chamferred axially extending surfaces. The outer sleeve member on its internal surface on one end and coupling member on its outer surface. An inner circumferential surface near one end of the coupling member is tapered or chamferred to permit the expandable coupling member to pivot outwardly away from the plug or receptacle member. Each coupling member segment is self-aligning and mutually abutting. Each coupling member segment has a single complete track and detent.

Auriana June 4, 1974 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR [75] lnventor: Mark Auriana,Springdale. Conn.

[73] Assignee: Burndy Corporation, Norwalk,

Conn.

22 Filed: Dec.29, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 319,141

[52] US. Cl 339/46, 285/316, 339/90 [51] Int. Cl. l-lOlt 13/62 [58]Field of Search 339/45, 46, 89, 90, 9l,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1946 Wiggins 339/91 R x5/1961 Jackson... 339/91 R Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay AssistantExaminer-Terrell P. Lewis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard S. Reiter 57ABSTRACT A quick disconnect electrical connector having a plug deviceand a receptacle device. Fixedly connected to either the plug device orthe receptacle device is an outer sleeve structure axially movable withrespect to the plug or receptacle member and resiliently biased in onedirection of engagement of the plug and the receptacle. A lanyard orother structure is attached to the outer sleeve for receiving thedisconnecting force. Attached to the other of the plug or receptacledevices are radially extending engaging structures which can beextending radially inwardly or outwardly. Engaging the radiallyextending structures is a coupling member which may be formed fromseveral sections and which is radially outwardly expandable. if thecoupling member is formed in a plurality of sections, it has a retainingmechanism adjacent to the end nearest the outer sleeve member. Acoupling member has a radially and circumferentially extending structureto engage the radially extending structure on either the plug orreceptacle means. Both the outer sleeve mem- :ber and the couplingmember have chamferred axially "extending surfaces. The outer sleevemember on its internal surface on one end and coupling member on itsouter surface. An inner circumferential surface near one end of thecoupling member is tapered or 'chamferred to permit the expandablecoupling memher to pivot outwardly away from the plug orreceptaclemember. Each coupling member segment is self- "aligning andmutually abutting. Each coupling member segment has a single completetrack and detent.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical connectors. Itpertains more particularly to an electrical connector that will separateon a pre-determined amount of force is applied to the two halves orcomponents. Releasable or quick disconnect types of connectors are wellknown in the art. 1

Such connectors are frequently used in aircraft and aerospaceapplications. In particular, those of a miltiary nature involve releaseof one object with respect to another. Such objects include fuel tanks,bombs, rockets and many other items which have electrical connectionsbetween the aircraft and the object to the released.

Another application requiring a releasable type of electrical connectoris in conjunction with the separation of various stages in a missile.Also, rockets are frequently held beneath the wings of aircraft andthey, too, must be separated from the aircraft reliably.

that occurs, an entire mission can fail. In the case of a militarymission, the obvious risks to the nation are high and the cost beyondcalculation.

In short, none of the prior art has taught a failsafe quick releaseelectrical connector. Nor has it taught a failsafe quick releaseelectrical connector utilizing a Additional applications involve the useof high alti- I tude balloon equipment which require electricalconnection between a balloon and a gondola or between a gondola andvarious other equipment hanging from it.

The prior art in the quick disconnect electrical field separates intoseveral basic types. Type one uses a ball bearing type ball whichisseated in a detent. A resiliently biased sleeve member extends overthe ball and detent and has a radial recess extending axially. When thesleeve is pulled back, the ball may be pushed outwardly into the recessby the force of separation permitting the connectors to disconnect. Inthis type of device it is important that the ball be seated properly inthedetent to insure interconnection of the connectors and that the axialspace in thesleeve be seated properly over the ball to permit thedisconnection of the connectors during separation.

Another type of quick disconnect electrical connector uses a pluralityof springs biased such that separation ofthe connectors will occur whenone or more detents or latches are released. Again, a spring biasedsleeve is generally used which will uncover the detents to permit themto be driven outward by additional spring members. But'in this ty pe ofstructure, in order to prevent separation improperly, it is necessary toblock the spring members which would tend to drive apart the latches.This again requires a proper circumferential and axial location ofdetents and wells.

Another type of electrical connector designed for quick separation usesa plurality of pawls or dogs which fit about bayonet pins. Again thepawls canexpand into a resiliently biased outer shell but they can onlyexpand if the resiliently biased outer shell is properly located withrespect tothe pawls and if, in fact, the pawls are directly over thebayonet pins. If neither of these conditions occur, the connectors willnot separate.

In combination with these type of connectors and others which usevarious forms of wedges and spring biased structures, a variety ofaudible clicks and visible alignment procedures are used to insureproper location of the locking and unlocking structures.

Nevertheless, in all ofthese known prior art devices, there is thepossibility that an assembler would improperly connect the electricaldevices such that the quick disconnect feature would be inoperative.When and if segmented coupling member in which each segment isself-aligning, contains a single complete track and detent and in whichthe segments are abutting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problemspresent in the prior art.

The present invention teaches a novel quick release electrical connectorin which improper alignment of the plug and receptacle mechanisms willnot prevent quick release of the connectors.

The present invention provides a novel coupling structure which insuresseparation of the electrical connectors upon application of theappropriate separation force.

The present invention teaches a novel coupling structure utilizing anexpandable coupling member.

- The present invention teaches a novel coupling structure utilizing aplurality of circumferential coupling segments, each having its owninner circumferential track and detent.

The present invention teaches a novel quick disconnect electricalconnector having a coupling member radially movable with respect to aplug or receptacle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick releaseelectrical connector which is a failsafe device such that it candisconnect whether properly engaged or not.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a failsafeelectrical connector which will not force itself apart if improperlyinterconnected.

It, is an object of the present invention to provide a novelquickrelease electrical connector having a coupling member which has aplurality of circumferential segments, each with their owncircumferential and radial track with each segment having its owndetent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel quickdisconnect electrical connector having a retaining member retaining aplurality of coupling segments for easy assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel couplingmember having a chamferred inner surface to permit the coupling memberto expand in a radial direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling memberformed of a plurality of segments, each segment having its own radialand circumferential track with a detent for receiving a radiallyextending section from either the plug or receptacle devices.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a novel outer sleevemember having a conically shaped inner surface near one end thereof anda coupling member having a conical surface matches to that of the sleevemember,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an axial view particallybroken away and in section showing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the detail of a portion of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning now to FIG. 1, there is showngenerally by the numeral a quick disconnect electrical connector havinga plug section shown generally by the letter P and a receptacle sectionshown generally by the letter R. Dielectric blocks 12 and 14 are fittedinto each section respectively. Into the dielectric blocks are fittedpins 16 and sockets 18 as is well known in the art.

A plug shell 20 having threads at 19 and a back shell and ground adapter22 also threaded at 23 are part of the plug structure as is well knownin the art. A retaining nut 24 is threaded at 21 and 25 to the backshell and the plug shell. The retaining nut has radially outwardlyextending annular rings 28 and 33 which along with a washer 32 enable itto receive a thrust spring 31 which may be any generally resilientmember. An outer sleeve 38 surrounds the retaining nut 24 and has on oneend thereof a tapered conical surface 46. At the other end thereof isformed an annulus 40 for receiving the separation force which may besupplied by a lanyard 44 attached at 42 or any other convenientstructure.

Fitted to the receptacle which is threaded at 66 is an outer sleevemember 62 threaded at 64. The shell has a plurality of bayonet pins 60extending radially outwardly therefrom. Of course, it makes nodifference whether the sleeve which is resiliently biased is connectedto the receptacle or to the plug and it does not matter if the bayonetpins extend from either the plug or the receptacle. Also, while thebayonet pins are shown as radially outwardly extending, they could be aninwardly depending surface.

A coupling member 50 has a generally conical outer surface 48 at one endand annular surfaces 54 and 58 at the other end to receive a retainingmember 52. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling member 50 may be composed ofthree generally circumferential segments, each having a radial andcircumferential track 72 and a detent 74 to engage the pins 60.

The outwardly extending keys 70 engage slots in the outer sleeve so thatwhen the outer sleeve is turned, the coupling member rotates also.

An inner circumferential surface is chamfered or tapered at 80 to enablemore ready outward expansion of the coupling member. A second resilientmember 82 shown as a wave washer in operation is disposed between aninner circumferential shoulder 55 of the coupling member and an annularsection 57 of the plug or receptacle; in this case, it is shown as theplug. The wave washer generates additional decoupling force tending toexpand the coupling member.

It can be easily appreciated that the present invention accomplishes allof its stated objectives. It matters not that the pins 60 are fullyengaged to the detents 74 of the coupling member because when theseparation pressure which may be 35 pounds is applied to the outer shellit is moved axially away from the direction of coupling which allows thepressure applied on the bayonet pins which may have a cam surface todrive the coupling members in a radially outwardly direction. Whetherthe bayonet pins are in the detent 74 or anywhere in the track 72, whichalso has a cam surface for increased efficiency, there is sufficientpressure to pivot the coupling members about the surface to permit therelease of the plug and the receptacle.

In short, there is no position in which this connector can fail torelease upon the appropriate pressure. At the same time, there is noactive spring biased or other separation force tending to separate theconnectors while there is no need for separation.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising:

first and second mating body members each having an axis; coupling meanscoaxially mounted to said first body member for telescopically engagingsaid second body member; radially extending means on said second bodymember adapted to engage said coupling means; said coupling meansincluding a plurality of separable cylindrical segments each having acomplete cam track with an opening at one end thereof and a terminus atthe other end thereof, said cam track being disposed at an angle to theaxis of said first body member for engaging and displacing said radiallyextending means along said cam track from said opening toward saidterminus upon rotation of said second body member relative to said firstbody member; release means comprising a sleeve coaxially engaging saidcoupling means and axially movable relative to said first body memberbetween a first position in which said cylindrical segments areconstrained against separation due to peripheral engagement with aportion of said sleeve, and a second position in which said portion ofsaid sleeve is disengaged from said cylindrical segments permittingsufficient separation thereof to release said radially extending meansfrom said cam track.

2. An electrical connection in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each cam track includes a detent near the terminus thereof for retaininga radially extending means which has been displaced along said trackinto engagement therewith.

3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim I, wherein:

said portion of said sleeve which peripherally engages said cylindricalsegments comprises a tapered, generally conical inner surface near oneend thereof; and, the cylindrical segments of said coupling means definea tapered, generally conical outer surface for engaging said portion ofsaid sleeve.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said release means includes provision for coupling to a release forceapplying device such as a lanyard, for moving said sleeve axiallyrelative to said first body member from said first position to saidsecond position.

5. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 4, furtherincluding: spring means interposed between said sleeve and said firstbody member, resiliently biasing said sleeve into said first position.

1. An electrical connector comprising: first and second mating bodymembers each having an axis; coupling means coaxially mounted to saidfirst body member for telescopically engaging said second body member;radially extending means on said second body member adapted to engagesaid coupling means; said coupling means including a plurality ofseparable cylindrical segments each having a complete cam track with anopening at one end thereof and a terminus at the other end thereof, saidcam track being disposed at an angle to the axis of said first bodymember for engaging and displacing said radially extending means alongsaid cam track from said opening toward said terminus upon rotation ofsaid second body member relative to said first body member; releasemeans comprising a sleeve coaxially engaging said coupling means andaxially movable relative to said first body member between a firstposition in which said cylindrical segments are constrained againstseparation due to peripheral engagement with a portion of said sleeve,and a second position in which said portion of said sleeve is disengagedfrom said cylindrical segments permitting sufficient separation thereofto release said radially extending means from said cam track.
 2. Anelectrical connection in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each camtrack includes a detent near the terminus thereof for retaining aradially extending means which has been displaced along said track intoengagement therewith.
 3. An electrical connector in accordance withclaim 1, wherein: said portion of said sleeve which peripherally engagessaid cylindrical segments comprises a tapered, generally conical innersurface near one end thereof; and, the cylindrical segments of saidcoupling means define a tapered, generally conical outer surface forengaging said portion of said sleeve.
 4. An electrical connector inaccordance with claim 1, wherein: said release means includes provisionfor coupling to a release force applying device such as a lanyard, formoving said sleeve axially relative to said first body member from saidfirst position to said second position.
 5. An electrical connector inaccordance with claim 4, further including: spring means interposedbetween said sleeve and said first body member, resiliently biasing saidsleeve into said first position.